Steel tower



H. E. MOORE.

STEEL TOWER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. I920- Patented Jan. 10, 1922;.

nnrmv n. moons, or snoonmzm nnw roani STEEL TOWER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgiyeitjed Jan. 18, 1%22.

Application filed A ril 1c, 1920. feel-mine. 372957.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l HENRY hloonn," a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Steel 'imvers of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of steel towerssuch as are used for supporting electric cables or for other purposes, the invention having more particular reference to the means for connecting the various members together to form the assembled tower. j

The invention has for a general object to provide a construction and arrangement adapted for the detachable connection of the parts of the tower structure. whereby the employment oi? permanent rivets will be dis pensed with while at-the same time ensuring a structure of the required strength.

More specifically the invention has for an object to provide a construction ot this type which will be inexpensive in cost and adapted for quick and easy erection. I

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of a steel tower having the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal section through one corner of the tower,

this View being taken on the line 3-3 of.

Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2, but taken on the line 44L of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar View to Figure 3, but taken on the line 55of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the hangers employed to support the upper post sections. I

In embodying my invention in a tower the main structural members consisting of the usual four upright corner posts, remain substantially unchanged, the invention relating to joints or connections therebetween, the tower shown in the drawings comprising the angle-iron corner posts consisting of lowersections 1; and'upper sections 1"; these corner posts being united by the crossed diagonalibraces 2 and 2 respectively, and the horizontal tie members 3.

To unite these braces and tie members to the corner posts and bind all these members into a rigid structure I employ a series of angular clamping plates or kneeplates arranged in pairs'on the corner posts at the points to which the braces connect to the latter, each pair, comprisingan outer plate 5 which extends across the outer face of the post, and an inner plate 6 which extends across the inner faced the post in registry with the outer plate, the ends o1 these plates projecting beyond the edges oi the posts on both flanges of the latter. 7

These projecting endsoi the plates are adapted to have the ends of the bracing members connected th ereto, suitable registering perforations being formed in the plates and bracing members through which pass bolts 8 having nuts threaded on their ends. As here shown the ends of the diagonal bracing members 2, 2 project across the opposed faces of the plates 5, 6 while the horizontal tie members project between these plates. 7 V k These horizontal tie members 3 are preferably slightly less thickness than the angleiron posts, thus ensuring that when the nuts 9 are screwed up tightly the plates 5, 6 will be firmly clamped to the posts.

In cases where towers of considerable height are to be constructed the corner posts may be made up of sections joined to one another in the manner shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5. The upper section 2' of each post extends downwardly for a short distance inside the lower section 1 and is supported from the latter by means of a pair of Z-shaped hanger plates 12 which are interposed between the adjacent faces of the two sections and have their top flanges extending over the top edge of the lOWer section and their bottom flanges extending under the lower edge of the upper section. The post sections and hanger plates are bound together by knee plates 5 and 6 which are in the main similar to the plates 5 and 6. being preferably of greater vertical length so as to ensure the proper rigidity at the junction of the two sections. The ends of these plates 5' and 6 project beyond the sides of the post sections and have the diagonal braces 2, 2 and the tie members 3, secured thereto by a series of vertically spaced bolts 14, having nuts 15 threaded on their ends. The downwardly extending brace being secured by the lower bolt, the upwardly extending brace by the upper bolt, and the tie member by the 'intermediate bolt. ably extend across the opposed faces of the plates 5', 6 while the tie 3 extends between the said plates, it being understood that these plates are constructed to ensure of a rigid clamping upon the post sections before the ends thereof tighten on the tie.

The various parts arevpreferably so constructed 'as to give a taper or batter to the sides of the tower as is usual, and it will be noted that with' this arrangement the ties 3 act to prevent any longitudinal movement of the clamping plates along the posts and serve to bind the whole structure together independently of the grip of the clamping plates on the posts. It will also be evident that in some situations when the top and bottom portions of the posts are horizontally secured together, the tie members may be dispensed with by the use of angle bar bracing members in place of the flat bars shown.

The structure as thus formed allows the several parts to be readilyassembled or taken down, and overcomes the usual practice of punching connection holes in the posts or main member, thus full strength of these parts.

While I have herein shown the connections as applied to a tower construction, it is to be understood that the same may also be used in other braced structures, as girders, trusses and the like.

preserying the The braces 2, 2 prefer-V Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as f0llows '1. In a tower construction comprising angle-iron corner posts and bracing members extending therebetween, means for securing said bracing members to said corner posts comprising pairs of angular plates, one plate of each pair extending across the outer face of the post and the other plate extending across the inner face of the post, said plates extending beyond the side edges of the posts and having holes'in the extended portions adapted "to register with each other and with holes formed in the ends of said bracing members, and bolts in said registering holes for securing together the bracing members, posts andside plates, said bracing members being disposed partly between and partly exteriorly of said angular plates.

' 2. In a tower structure, angle-iron corner posts formed in vertical sectlons, the lower end of the upper section of each post overlapping the upper end or" the lower section, means for transmitting the verticalthrust from the upper to, the lower section, clamping plates extending across the opposed faces of the said overlapping section ends and being bolted to one another independently of said post sections, and bracing members extending between the posts and bolted at their ends to the said clamping plates.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 7th day of April, A. D. 1920.

HENRY E.MOORE. 

